Dunedin

Dunedin is located in the top of Otago Area, a long and narrow district in southeastern South Island (New Zealand mainly consists of South Island and North Island). Wedges between hills and waters, Dunedin is blessed with pleasant climate, without severe cold or heat. Summer is the best season of the year. Port Otago, 16 kilometers southeast to the city, has Port Chalmers which is its outer harbour.

Queenstown, Lake Wanaka and Milford Sound (a southern mountain), lying in the back mountains, are only few-hour ride from Dunedin. Catlins, a natural heritage highway along the Catlins Coast and remains of gold rush are also nearby.

Dunedin is the capital of Otago and the second biggest city in South Island as well as the fourth biggest city in New Zealand, following Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Besides, it is also the biggest harbour and traffic and business hub in South Island.

The architectural style in the whole city adopts typical Scottish style, thus the city is known as the foreign city that "resembles Scotland most apart from Scotland”. Moreover, Dunedin is the economic, commercial and cultural center in southeastern South Island.

Main Attractions:

Olveston

Olveston, close to the city center, is a notable  historic building in Dunedin. With elegant appearance and delicate decorations, the building has 35 rooms in different sizes. Olveston was constructed by a merchant named David Theomin and his family. In the vigorous times of gold rush, the owner, dependent on transactions of antiques and home decorations, became one of the wealthiest people. After the decease of Dorothy Theomin in 1966, she contributed the building with 35 rooms to the municipal government. Currently the building has been open to travelers with the inside decorations and settings left as they were, so travelers, when visiting the ancient building, can experience the glorious past of Dunedin and have a glimpse of the life of a wealthy family during World War I. The building and its furnishings were slightly changed from 1906 to 1926. Olveston is also a small gallery which displays precious paintings, furniture and artworks that the owner had collected.

Larnach's Castle

Larnach's Castle, the sole castle in New Zealand, is located in the stretching hills in Otago Peninsula and was once the workplace of politicians. The construction was started in 1871, with 200 workmen responsible for constructing the external building, which lasted for 5 years. On the basis, three British sculptors spent 12 years decorating the internal building. The unique architectural style simultaneously combines Neo-Gothic Renaissance style and British colonial style. The magnificent internal building is furnished with Italian gypsum ceilings, Venetian glass walls, marble tubs which weigh 1 tone, and a Georgian hanging ladder, which is the sole existence in the southern hemisphere.

The Castle is accompanied with a story that combines "romance, tragedy and scandal”. The construction of the Castle was originally in the charge of a beautiful French heiress, Eliza, who was also the first wife of William Larnach. After her early and tragic death, her six children was left, losing their mother. Mr Larnach then married two wives. However, his third wife fell in love with the son of Mr Larnach and his first wife, which drove Mr Larnach crazy and killed himself in the parliament house. It is said that his spirit still wanders in the house. The tragedy triggers people’s feelings.

A highway that leads to the Castle is constructed along the coast of Otago Peninsula. Views on the highway are fascinating. When staying in the Castle and exposed to its historic garden, people can experience the unique charm of Dunedin. Looking out from the Castle, people can command the full view of beautiful gulf and Dunedin Port resembles a brilliant pearl.

Baldwin Street

Baldwin Street is the steepest street in the world. Every summer an enjoyable Dunedin Festival will be held here, attracting travelers from all over the world. People can enjoy folk customs of Dunedin here and experience the life in the steep street. They can even try various challenging sports.

Dunedin Train Station was put in service in 1906. The bulky, magnificent and splendid building, with broad mosaics ceramic floors and colorful glass windows, is one of the must-go places of numerous travelers as well as the departure terminal of charming trains which can take people o the unique and historic Taieri Gorge. The train station enabled architect George A. Troup to win the name of "Gingerbread George”. Troup, employing the Flemish Renaissance style, designed the train station, whose design resembled the designs of University of Otago and nearby courts.

The train station was built of Kokonga and the exposed surface was made of Oamaru limestone, with various shapes, textures and materials included. Through a comprehensive renovation in 1999, the building was restored to its original magnificence.

Dunedin Botanic Garden

Dunedin Botanic Garden is one of the biggest species-divided gardens with the most types of plants. Azalea, as the most precious flower in the garden, gives rise to the famous Azalea Festival which will be annually held in the garden at the third week of October. Different types of colorful azaleas attract thousands of travelers.

Thee are different exhibitions in the garden, many of which were constructed with private funds. Travelers can experience the passion and cherishing of citizens in Dunedin for the nature. Besides, travelers can find exotic flowers and rare herbs in the garden which attracts botanists to do explorations. Botanic gardens around the world will also communicate with the garden about catalog of plants and exchange seeds.

Port Otago

Visiting Port Otago by ship is another attraction for travelers in Dunedin. During the visit, people can see various rare animals in South Island, including albatrosses, yellow-eyed penguins, dolphins, seals and sharks. The albatrosses in the nearby gulf of Dunedin are one the rarest birds in the world, known as "royal birds”. Yellow-eyed penguins are the "shiest” penguins in the world, living a harmonious life together with seals on the same beach in gulf of Dunedin. There is a Gothic church in Dunedin, founded in 1873. The church is the first church in Dunedin. with magnificent appearance, its sharp top rises into the sky. Though people who constructed the grand buildings had passed away, their life is recorded in Otago Settlers Museum which stores the history of the mid-18th century and modern societies. The museum is appealing to people and is worth a visit.

An eye-catching terra-cotta statue is erected in an avenue. For the statue has eight sides, it is thus called as "octagonal city center” which makes it easy for you to find where you are. During every summer daze that associations will celebrate, the octagonal city center will be decorated subtly. Major national and international art exhibitions will be held in city center. Theaters, cafes and bars seem to have conquered every corner of old buildings. With over 140 cafes, restaurants and food outlets, the popular food and beverage festival will be held in Woodbangh in every March.

Brewery

Industries of the city are also one of the attractions. Regular tour groups will arrange travelers to visit Speight's Brewery. Whiskey of Dunedin have enjoyed a good reputation, so travelers will often choose to visit a well-known whiskey brewery and buy a few bottles for friends, relatives or themselves. The glimmering brass-brewed wine is tempting and the sole whiskey brewery in New Zealand, Wilson Distillers, is also intoxicating.

If you are not interested in Whiskey, don’t feel disappointed. The beer in Dunedin, whose taste is pure and mellow, is what makes the locals feel proud and will make you satisfied.

Otago Museum

The outstanding public organization in Dunedin, Otago Museum, is a must-go place. Remarkable and abundant historical relics of the Maori and Pacific Islanders, especially the Maori cultures in the south, are displayed in the museum. Thus, travelers who are interested in tribal cultures can not let go the chance of visiting the tribal cultures showcased in the museum.

Over 1,500,000 items are displayed in the museum, including items related to natural history, anthropology of the Maori and Pacific Island, archaeology and world decorative arts. The museum also collects world national cultures, marine history, textiles, traditional clothing, coins and stamps. Generally speaking, the museum is a treasure house of scientific knowledge, history, culture and history of natural evolution. Eight permanent exhibition halls and some special roving galleries exhibit the valuable collections of the museum and items from different places. The museum will always settle down matters related to exhibitions for the public.